Kuala Lumpur – CBL International Limited (NASDAQ: BANL), a key player in the Asia-Pacific marine fuel logistics sector, has released its unaudited financial results for the first half of 2025. Despite continued volatility in marine fuel prices and geopolitical disruptions affecting global shipping routes, CBL demonstrated strong operational resilience — led by a significant surge in biofuel sales and improved financial metrics.
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Key Takeaways
- Revenue reached $265.17 million, down 4.4% year-on-year, primarily due to lower marine fuel prices. However, this was largely offset by a 9.8% increase in sales volume.
- Sales volume growth was driven by network expansion and a strategic pivot into non-container liner and biofuel segments, aligning with global demand for cleaner fuels.
- Gross profit margin improved to 1.02% from 0.98%, reflecting stronger operational discipline in a highly competitive market.
- Net loss narrowed by nearly 40% to $992,000, supported by cost control and operational efficiency.
- Biofuel sales surged 154.7% year-on-year, confirming CBL’s early-mover advantage under tightening environmental regulations such as IMO 2023 and EU FuelEU Maritime.
Navigating a Shifting Bunkering Landscape
CBL’s report highlights the rapidly changing dynamics of the global bunkering sector. While fuel prices remain under macroeconomic pressure, CBL’s strong sales volume — particularly in biofuels — reflects growing market demand for sustainable marine energy solutions.
The Company’s global service footprint now spans 65 ports across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Central America, reinforcing its ability to adapt to shifting trade patterns. This includes increased demand on alternative routes bypassing the Red Sea due to regional instability — a scenario that has tested the flexibility of bunkering networks worldwide.
Strategic Expansion and Operational Excellence
CBL’s geographic and customer diversification continues to drive its growth. As of June 2025, the Group had extended its presence to 65 strategically located ports, allowing it to mitigate geopolitical risks and serve emerging demand corridors impacted by U.S. tariffs and trade route realignments.
- CBL still services 9 of the world’s top 12 container shipping lines, who represent nearly 60% of global container fleet capacity.
- Customer mix has diversified: Non-container liner sales now account for 36.9% of total revenue.
- Customer concentration among the top five clients fell to 60.4%, down from 66.7%, increasing revenue stability.
Biofuels: The New Frontier in Marine Fuels
The most compelling performance highlight is the 154.7% surge in biofuel sales, reflecting both regulatory momentum and CBL’s early leadership in sustainable marine fuels.
CBL’s B24 biofuel blend — composed of 24% UCOME (used cooking oil methyl ester) — is now available across China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, with Singapore onboarding in 2025. B24 offers a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional marine fuels and positions the Group at the forefront of the energy transition in shipping.
CEO Perspective: Turning Challenges into Opportunities with Biofuel and Network Expansion
Dr. Teck Lim Chia, Chairman and CEO of CBL International Limited, highlighted the company’s strong progress despite the tough environment:
“Our first half results highlight significant strategic progress. Despite a challenging macro backdrop, we successfully expanded our global network, accelerated our biofuel transition with triple-digit growth, and narrowed our net loss by nearly 40%. These achievements underscore our resilience, operational discipline, and confidence in long-term growth.”
“As regulations tighten and customer demand for sustainable marine fuels accelerates, CBL is uniquely positioned as an early mover with the ISCC certifications and supply partnerships to lead the market transition. We remain focused on executing our strategy to deliver profitable growth and long-term shareholder value.”
About the Banle Group – CBL International
CBL International Limited (Nasdaq: BANL) serves as the listed entity of the Banle Group, a reputable marine fuel logistics company established in 2015 and headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region. The Group is dedicated to providing a comprehensive one-stop solution for vessel refueling, known in the industry as a bunkering facilitator.
Banle facilitates vessel refueling primarily through partnerships with local physical suppliers across 65 major ports spanning key maritime hubs including Belgium, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mauritius, Panama, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
With a firm commitment to sustainability, the Group promotes the adoption of alternative marine fuels and has been awarded both ISCC EU and ISCC Plus certifications, reinforcing its role as a leader in the transition to environmentally responsible bunkering.
Source Banle Group – CBL International Limited